These are individual intelligence tests which
require one-on-one consultation with the child. The tests involve
various verbal and non-verbal subtests which can be combined to give an
overall IQ, but which also provide valuable separate subtest scores and
measures based on the behavioural responses of the child to the test
items.

Some of the content of these tests is clearly
culture-loaded, hence there is the:

Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children - a
more recent test which attempts to minimize cultural bias. The test also
attempts to separate crystallised and fluid intelligence.

Group intelligence tests

Group-administered intelligence tests involve a
series of different problems and are generally used in mass testing
situations such as the military and schools. Examples of group tests
are:

Multidimensional Aptitude Battery

The Cognitive Abilities test

Scholastic Assessment Tests

There has been a trend towards the use of
multiple choice items. Many of theses tests have separately timed
sub-tests. A major distinction made between types of items is verbal and
non-verbal. In recent years there has been a trend away from verbal and
mathematical items towards non-verbal represented problems in pictures.

Part of the reason for shifting away from
verbal-based tests, in particular, is the issue of culture-loading.

Advantages of group tests:

can be administered to very large numbers
simultaneously

simplified examiner role

scoring typically more objective

large, representative samples often used
leading to better established norms

Disadvantages of group tests:

examiner has less opportunity to establish
rapport, obtain cooperation, and maintain interest

not readily detected if examinee tired,
anxious, unwell

evidence that emotionally disturbed children
do better on individual than group tests

examinee’s responses more restricted

normally an individual is tested on all items
in a group test and may become boredom over easy items and frustrated or
anxious over difficult items

individual tests typically provide for the
examiner to choose items based on the test takers prior responses -
moving onto quite difficult items or back to easier items. So individual
tests offer more flexibility.